It's been a funny week. On the one hand there have been a number of news stories that could fascinate the potential cinema patron in the future, on the other hand none of those are really jumping out shouting "I'm the best story! Put me first!" Lots to see, not necessarily lots to get excited about. We've also been inundated with casting news which gives a reason to go beyond the jump.
Lady who Went too Far
Tom Hooper and David Seidler are currently on top of the world. The director and writer of The King's Speech are likely to come away with a number of Academy awards next weekend, and for both of them the collaboration seems to be the highpoint of their careers so far. With that in mind it's hardly surprising they are planning to work together again with the biopic of 19th century explorer and humanitarian Lady Hester Stanhope (below).
The niece of British Prime Minister Pitt the Younger, she travelled extensively across the Middle East treasure hunting and offering sanctuary to refugees, often whilst facing powerful opposition for her unconventional lifestyle from home and the largely Islamic local tribes.
It's a great role for a woman so expect a powerhouse performer snapping up the central part before long, especially given the additional budgetary clout the project may have due to the below the line talent involved. From the director of Oscar winning... works wonders for accountants.
Read on for spies, submarines, gang violence, reincarnation choices and fat cats acting outrageously (it's OK, I don't mean Garfield).
Agent Zigzag
As well as the return of Bond we have this non-fiction counterpart that may just be hitting our muliplexes in the next few years. Based on the life of Eddie Chapman, with the titular codename, it will focus on how his British spymasters and conveyor belt of lovers learn whether to trust him. It's being written by Brighton Rock scribe Rowan Joffe, son of Roland, and might be directed by Mike Newell once he's completed Great Expectations.
Hunter Killer
Submarine based movies are few and far between even though there have been some excellent examples (Red October (right), Crimson Tide). Notably both of these involved gung-ho Americans and mysterious Ruskies, and so it is with this latest script likely to go into production. It focuses on an American sub commander and a Navy SEAL team that must rescue the Russian president and defeat a renegade admiral who’s attempting a coup, which sounds utterly barmy will have some underwater action scenes as well as (hopefully) some torpedo dodging action.
The Knife
Curiously connected to Agent Zigzag above in both it's true story premise and scope this project looks at the modern version of spies: the snitch, the criminal who wants to get out but can only do so with the FBI so sings like a canary. Based on the 2008 GQ article by Guy Lawson it focuses on a South Central gang member who turns states to such a great effect it sends it's leaders into a panicked attempt to kill all snitches. Kimberly Peirce (Stop-Loss, Boy's Don't Cry) is the slightly unlikely director attached.
Ubik
Philip K. Dick's work is currently undergoing a film adaptation revival. Next month we'll see The Adjustment Bureau and a remake of Total Recall is in pre-production. Next will be his highly praised metaphysical comedy about death and salvation centering on a cabal of dead characters looking for their next physical manifestation. I'm not sure what the relevance of the aerosol can on the book cover is, really must read it, but if anyone can enlighten me I'd be very grateful. Michel Gondry is working on the script and planning to direct, let's just hope he's given enough rope to make a fun Gondry but not allowed to indulge his every whim a la The Science of Sleep.
Wolf of Wall Street
Formerly reported here as a potential project for Ridley Scott the biopic of investment banker Jordan Belfort has now moved to the schedule of Martin Scorsese an will mark his fifth film with Leonardo DiCaprio who's already signed on for the lead. However we will have quite a long time to wait as Franciscan monk movie Silence is still planned as Marty's next move.
Casting News
There have been another full wave of casting announcements made this week including Jude Law joining the love across class divide drama 360, Juliette Binoche and Matthieu Almaric will be helping to ruin Robert Pattinson's day in Cosmopolis, Rachel Weisz will learn to love her husband even after she becomes the first transgendered woman in Danish Girl. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Marion Cotillard are the latest rumoured cast members for Dark Knight Rises, and talking of Batman alumni Michelle Pfeiffer is set to play the matriarch at the centre of the Dark Shadows with Helena Bonham Carter also set to join Tim Burton's movie (surprise, surprise). Colin Firth looks to be the next Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady and finally after sorting out her painful divorce (who says I don't pay attention to celeb culture) Halle Berry is back on for New Years Eve, although in a different role.
Anne Hathaway may be a better Catwoman than Halle Berry but she's got a lot to do to out Miaow Michelle Pfeiffer (above).
Saturday, 19 February 2011
An Englishwoman abroad - (Film News - 19/02/11)
Saturday, 29 May 2010
Musical Blog-a-thon
When Encore's World of Film & TV (have you read the blog? Well worth the visit) first mooted the idea of a Musical blog-a-thon I was initially sceptical. They may be a few corners of the web that will clear out throats and belt out a supportive tune for our own personal favourites but we are preaching to the converted. The rest of the world will shrug and carry on with their general disregard for this much maligned genre.
Therein lies the problem. Musicals are not, in themselves a genre, it's a style of storytelling and due to the theatricality of the style it can be off-putting. We do not, in life, suddenly burst into song so accepting characters to do the same requires a suspension of disbelief that is over and above most movie going experiences. It is not surprising therefore that 2 of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful musicals from the last ten years have wavered from the traditional formula - Chicago played the musical numbers within the subconscious of the stars, and Moulin Rouge created a world where every act was theatrical and the singing was a natural extension of that world.
If the rise of naturalistic story telling has hampered the musical form what then is the future. There are currently few big budget musical productions being prepped, in the last 18 months of reading the news only 4 come to mind (forgive me if there are more); Steven Soderbergh's Cleo which appears to be going the over-theatrical route, 1990 Tony Award winner City of Angels which takes place in the mind of the main character, Nightclub based The Song is You where the music accompanies the story rather than propels it and the Carey Mulligan starring My Fair Lady update.
It's this last picture that I aim to focus on for the rest of the post. Partly because it's a story that can only be told in a naturalistic way, partly because the remake has a huge amount of responsibility and partly because I love the original so much. So read on for five reasons why My Fair Lady could rescue the Hollywood Musical, and one reason why it means so much to me.
1. The story is timeless
Alan Jay Lerner may have based his musical on George Bernard Shaw's 1913 hit play (albeit removing the tricky prologue and epilogue's and changing the ending) but that's story is simply a modern retelling of the Greek Myth popularised by Ovid. Pygmalion himself was a (fictional) sculptor who's love for his work is so great that the sculpture comes alive. This concept of a work of art coming to life through overwhelming desire is seen in variations as different as Frankenstein, Pinnochio and Laura. In Shaw's version Eliza Doolittle is no longer an inanimate object but the idea that working on her to make her more desirable will corrupt dialect expert Henry Higgins into falling in love is clearly reflective of the original story.
Here is Rex Harrison as Henry Higgins realising he loves his creation:
2. The songs are catchy
With musical theatre the score must either be so good that the listener appreciates the quality of the writing (see just about anything by Sondheim), or you need to leave the auditorium toe tapping away (try anything by Andrew Lloyd Webber). I won't pretend the music in My Fair is particularly well written, but by God it does make you want to join in.
Stanley Holloway's getting married in the morning - I expect you know this one.
3. The love story is complex and real
What exactly are the dynamics of the central romances in My Fair Lady? Well Freddy Enysford-Hill falls for Eliza on first meeting her. Eliza, who's father abandons her, has a thing for older man Higgins. Higgins devoutly states he will never let a woman in his life at the beginning, questions why women can't be more like men and when presented with Eliza on a plate (sorry about the spoiler) doesn't rush to hold her but leans back and asks for slippers (am I the only one wondering what the exact relationship between Higgins and Pickering - "What a fine pair of babies playing with their life size doll" - could be). In short everyone falls for the wrong person, and no-one knows how to truly express their feelings.
This is best expressed in Audrey Hepburn's (Marni Nixon's voice) dismissal of words:
4. It's so awfully British
Being set in Edwardian England has some great advantages for musicals. Primarily because we can understand every line of dialogue and singing (even the accents are very well enunciated), and partly because it will actually be easier to believe the characters breaking into song. Trust me it will work...
Rex Harrison explaining why English is so important.
5. Behind the scenes the craft is incredible
The original is beautiful, every scene is packed with gorgeous detail and period flourishes. Whilst the update will struggle to better it if it comes anywhere close to the creativity exhibited then it will be gorgeous to watch.
Here's the Ascot Gavotte which very nicely showcases the gorgeous costuming, frivolous design and impeccable choreography.
6. When I was a boy I knew every word
The very personal reason I want this to succeed is based on my own childhood. I am truly a child of the VCR, invented and mass produced when I was living in Hong Kong my family were one of the few people to have them when we returned to the UK. There were limited recordings available - naturally I wore out Star Wars and the few Disney titles that were around as well as an unhealthy fixation with Carry On films. My Grandparents were musical fans though and felt that the overt sexuality in Rodgers and Hammerstein pictures like South Pacific and Carousel was too much for me but that My Fair Lady, for all the reasons above, was more suitable. So every couple of weeks as a fresh faced 6 year old I would go to visit them and spend nearly three hours starring at Cecil Beaton's delightful costumes. I did, as I stated above, know every word. So it's very important to me personally that they get this new version right and not sully the original.
Saturday, 31 October 2009
Film News (31/10/2009)
I may have mentioned that I've been on tour and not been able to get to a computer recently. Or at least not enough to be able to read up on the news and report back. I am therefore writing this in the middle of half term with over three pages of notes regarding news stories that have come and gone over the last month and a half. I'm binning all updates on stories we've already reported on and just looking at the completely original incidents. With no further ado let's get on...
Gucci Biopic
There are few families from the 20th century which seem to be ripped out of a soap opera more than the fashion giants Gucci. There have been boardroom fist fights, celebrity hangers on, tax evasion claims and even murder. It's such a mad story it's going to need a barmy cast to bring it off... Anjelina Jolie as Patrizia Reggiano and Leonardo DiCaprio as her superflous husband Maurizio Gucci. Never mind the Dallas picture bring on the Gucci's.
Shoes are apparently not related to this post in any way...
American Rust
Described as a modern retelling of the underclass stories written by John Steinbeck in the pre-war years American Rust concerns two agricultural workers who leave their home town to find better jobs only to be caught in a maelstrom of violence and misunderstanding. Walter Salles has signed on to direct.
The Fly
I won't link to the 1986 version of the classic sci-fi about a scientist finding his DNA altered irreperably. Although perhaps I should because although there have rumours about a remake David Cronenberg has publicly stated that he will be behind the camera for any remakes. With advances in technology over the last 25 years the body horror elements will almost certainly be digusting beyond belief.
It's a Kind of Funny Story
Apparently it's a well-loved young adult story by Ned Vizzini about a suicidal teenager checking into an adult mental health facility. I don't know if the book is any good but I love the concept, and with Viola Davis signing up for a pivotal role you can count me in.
Melancholia
Lars von Trier is fed up with making deep arthouse pictures that divide audiences, so he's decided to make a blockbuster - a sci-fi disaster movie no less. Early plot details indicate another planet collides with the Earth. Don't expect a happy ending.
My Fair Lady
I love the original My Fair Lady, as a kid I was sat in front of it on almost every visit to my Grandparents. As such it is with trepidation that I approach the remake with Keira Knightly. The good news is that Emma Thompson is working on a script, which could make it very humourous. In unlikely casting Daniel Craig is being mooted for Henry Higgins.
Red Riding
To recap David Pearce wrote a quadrilogy of novels about corruption in the Yorkshire police forces during the late 70's and early 80's. Looking at the investigation into some teenagers murdered against the rise and fall of the trade unions. This was made into a TV miniseries, which was released in the states as 3 films - can anyone verify this, please? It looks like Columbia and Scott Free entertainment have picked it up to create one big movie. Could be a horrible mess.
Robert Capa Biopic
Michael Mann will be returning to the biopic arena for his next film, by looking at the famed photographer Robert Capa. The film wil focus on his early romances during the Spanish Civil War, so expect plenty of opportunity for Mann's sound editors to shine.
Securitas Robbery picture
Here in the UK we're just coming to the end of reports about the Tonbridge Securitas robbery. In essence it's a common story where the robbers kidnap the managers family and use that a leverage to get into the bank or, in this case depot. Only this time it's the largest haul in a robbery of all time with over 50m sterling taken. To make the story even more bizarre the ring leaders were mostly high profile cage fighters. It hasn't taken long for the studios to take an interest and I'm sure they're be parts for Danny Dyer in it.
X-Movies
The future of the X-Men franchise rumbles on. Like many of you I refused to cough up a fiver to see Wolverine, however lots of people did so expect a second installement of that offshoot as well as individual films for Magneto and Deadpool. Pruducer Lauren Schuler-Donner has also blurted out that we're likely to see an X-Men early years movie, like a mutant One Tree Hill. Can't wait? Personally I think the whole X franchise may have had it's day but we'll see. At what point do falling returns mean you stop production...
Box Office News
Release Date News
Taking Woodstock - Making November slightly easier to manage Ang Lee's 1960s set homocomedy has been moved back a week. Trip out with the flower generation on 13 November 2009.
The Girlfriend Experience - Steven Soderbergh's lo-fi experiment about the escort industry has slipped back another week into December. You can see the trailer this week. Pay over the odds on 04 December 2009.
The Boys are Back - Clive Owen's Oscar bid, based on Simon Carr's true story will still be showing in January next year but it is now a dirrent week. Learn to say yes on 22 January 2010.
Dear John - If the idea of watching a Nicolas Saprks novel adapted by Lasse Hallstrom makes you gag then you should seriously consider taking May as holiday. On the other hand we see an awful lot of Channing Tatum in the trailer. Write a love letter to Channing on 07 May 2010.
The Green Hornet - I'm hoping this is the last time Michel Gondry's comic book tome will be shifted back as the talent involved really intrigues me. Crime fight using a mysterious identity on 31 December 2010.
Untitled James L. Brooks Movie - It may be called How do you Know, it might not, but Brooks' return to the silver screen with Reese Witherspoon and lucky charm Jack Nicholson has chosen a prime date for the 2010 Oscar season. Have two men fight over you on 14 January 2011.
Straw Dogs - Two months ago I was concerned that the release date for Rod Lurie's retelling of the classic revenge thriller had disappeared into the ether, well it's back. Execute your wife's rapists on 11 March 2011.
Rango - It's not often I get interested in animated movies, however this reunites the Pirates trilogy director Gore Verbinski with star Johnny Depp. Plus it's about dogs. Fetch a bone on 08 April 2011.
Town Creek - They shifted it back further and further until ti completed disappeared. I can't say I'm sorry that I probably won't see the latest film from Joel Schumacher, but I'll keep an eye out in case it makes a limited release before it's inevitable appearance in DVD bargain bins.
Box Office Report
August and September both minor shocks in the top of the box office statistics, with a horror sequel conquering August and a South African actioners the champ in September. Although with the general lack of quality around in the late summer perhaps these two were positioned well.
August
1. The Final Destination
2. The Proposal
3. Inglorious Basterds
4. The Time Traveler's Wife
5. Aliens in the Attic
September
1. District 9
2. Fame
3. Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs
4. (500) Days of Summer
5. Surrogates
I thought I'd end this post with a picture of a prawn. Well done for persevering.
